To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 362(a)) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Hannaford and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely:
‘The intimidation and abuse of Councillors, in person or otherwise, undermines democracy; preventing elected members from representing the communities they serve, deterring individuals from standing for election, and undermining public life in democratic processes.
Devon County Council notes that increasing levels of toxicity in public and political discourse is having a detrimental impact on local democracy, and that prevention, support and responses to abuse and intimidation of local politicians must improve to ensure Councillors feel safe and able to continue representing their residents.
Devon County Council therefore commits to challenge the normalisation of abuse against Councillors and officers and uphold exemplary standards of public and political debate in all it does. Devon County Council further agrees to sign up to the LGA’s Debate Not Hate campaign. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the role of Councillors in local communities, encourage healthy debate and improve the response to and support those in public life facing abuse and intimidation.
In addition, this Council resolves to
· Write to the local Members of Parliament to ask them to support the campaign.
· Write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians at every level.
· Ensure that Devon County Council has a clear reporting mechanism which Councillors can use to monitor and record incidents of harassment and abuse of Councillors and officers.
· Regularly review the support available to Councillors in relation to abuse and intimidation and councilor safety.
· Work with the local police to ensure there is a clear and joined-up mechanism for reporting threats and other concerns about the safety of councilors and their families and discuss the need to take a preventative approach that accounts for the specific risks that Councilors face, as they do with other high-risk individuals, like MP’s.
· Take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of Councillors and officers’.
Having had regard to the aforementioned, any factual briefing/position statement on the matter set out in Report (LDS/23/7) and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting the Cabinet subsequently resolved:
that the County Council:
(i) recognises the actions already taken in support of the debate not hate agenda and endorses a zero tolerance approach to abuse of both staff and Councillors;
(ii) continues to develop tools and give advice that supports Councillors in relation to safety issues and tackling inappropriate behaviour, including encouraging Elected Members to use the reporting mechanism in place;
(iii) works with the Police to establish a link whereby advice and support can be sought and develop a procedure document to accompany this; and
(iv) write to Devon MP’s, copying in the LGA, outlining the Council’s support for the campaign and encouraging them to promote this agenda to Government and support any actions that seek to address the abuse and intimidation of those in public life.
Decision:
that the County Council:
(a) recognises the actions already taken in support of the ‘debate not hate’ agenda and endorses a zero tolerance approach to abuse of both staff and Councillors;
(b) continues to develop tools and give advice that supports Councillors in relation to safety issues and tackling inappropriate behaviour, including encouraging Elected Members to use the reporting mechanism in place;
(d) write to Devon MP’s, copying in the LGA, outlining the Council’s support for the campaign and encouraging them to promote this agenda to Government and support any actions that seek to address the abuse and intimidation of those in public life.
Minutes:
Pursuant to County Council Minute 212 of 25 May 2023 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Hannaford that:
‘The intimidation and abuse of Councillors, in person or otherwise, undermines democracy; preventing elected Members from representing the communities they serve, deterring individuals from standing for election, and undermining public life in democratic processes.
Devon County Council notes that increasing levels of toxicity in public and political discourse is having a detrimental impact on local democracy, and that prevention, support and responses to abuse and intimidation of local politicians must improve to ensure Councillors feel safe and able to continue representing their residents.
Devon County Council therefore commits to challenge the normalisation of abuse against Councillors and officers and uphold exemplary standards of public and political debate in all it does. Devon County Council further agrees to sign up to the LGA’s Debate Not Hate campaign. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in local communities, encourage healthy debate and improve the response to and support those in public life facing abuse and intimidation.
In addition, this Council resolves to
· Write to the local Members of Parliament to ask them to support the campaign.
· Write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians at every level.
· Ensure that Devon County Council has a clear reporting mechanism which Councillors can use to monitor and record incidents of harassment and abuse of Councillors and officers.
· Regularly review the support available to Councillors in relation to abuse and intimidation and councilor safety.
· Work with the local police to ensure there is a clear and joined-up mechanism for reporting threats and other concerns about the safety of Councillors and their families and discuss the need to take a preventative approach that accounts for the specific risks that Councilors face, as they do with other high-risk individuals, like MP’s.
· Take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of Councillors and officers’.
and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 362(a) of 12 July 2023:
Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and that the County Council:
(a) recognises the actions already taken in support of the ‘debate not hate’ agenda and endorses a zero tolerance approach to abuse of both staff and Councillors;
(b) continues to develop tools and give advice that supports Councillors in relation to safety issues and tackling inappropriate behaviour, including encouraging Elected Members to use the reporting mechanism in place;
(d) write to Devon MP’s, copying in the LGA, outlining the Council’s support for the campaign and encouraging them to promote this agenda to Government and support any actions that seek to address the abuse and intimidation of those in public life.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and subsequently thereafter also CARRIED as the substantive motion.